Ceiling-switch.



VPMEN'JTED .JUNE 9, 1903.

l No. 730,573.

H. R. SARGENT.

l CEILING sWITcH. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

Fig. l.

lin Vent' oir" 'rgenf WMne'sseS:

NO. 730,573. Patented June 9, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD R. SARGENT, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENf ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

eBECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,573, dated June 9, 1903. Application led September 20, 1901'. Serial No. 75.735. (No model.)

.To all whom it may con/Cerro: ed on a base-plate A, of porcelain or other Beit known that I, HOWARD R. SARGENT, a insulating material, provided with holes a for citizen of theUnitedStates,residingat Schenthe attachingscrews. A switch-blade B is ectady, county of Schenectady, State of New Apivoted to the base-plate at one end and pro- York, have invented certain new and useful Vvided with a spring for throwing it open 55 Improvements in Ceiling-Switches, (Case No. against a stop ci. I prefer to construct and 2,06%) of which the following is a specicaarrange the spring as shown in the drawings, tion. `in which a helical spring C is placed concen- This invention relates to switches for contric with the pivot of the blade, having. one Io trolling electric circuits; and its object is to end attached to the blade and the other end 6o provideaswitch of simple construction which secured Vto the base plate, preferably by can be readily operated, both to open and means of a stud D, located inside the spring close it, by a pull on a single cord or other and having a polygonal [flange @Lto which connection. The device is especially inthe end ofthe spring is attached and which 15 tended for locations not easily accessible lits imo a polygonal recess a2 in the basc- 65 where the switch must be capable of control plate. A fastening-screw E enters the upper from a greater or less distance-such, forinend of the stud from the upper side of the stance, as the ceiling of a room. I have base-plate. The lower end of the stud hasa therefore designated my invention as a ceilcentrally-projecting pin d', on which is piving-switch and will describe it as such, oted the blade B, which may be retained in 7o though it will be evident that it lis capable `place by a Washer Eandrsplit pin G. Alineof use in any location not readily accessible terminal is in electrical connection with the by an attendant. Y stud and blade, preferably a bent strip of Many switches have been made which are metal H, having one end clamped above the operated by pulling one of two cords, wires, upper end of the stud and the other end ly- 75 or rods, and closed by pulling the other. It ing on the surface ofthe base-plate and carry` has also been proposed to open and close a ing a binding-screw h. The other line-terswitch by pulling asingle cord, but by means minal is a strip of metal I, carrying a bindof rather complicated aud expensive mechving-screw i) and fastened by screws K to lugs 3o anism. o3, depending from the face of the base-plate 8o My invention aims to produce a single-op-4 A. Between the terminal and the lugs is erating-cord switch with simple and inexpenclamped a contact-clip Il, composed, prefersive parts. ably, of a double strip of sheet metal, the

It consists in a switch-blade, alatch to enfree ends Z being separated to receive the gage with and hold said switch-bladeiclosed, switch-blade and the-bend being opened out 85 a spring to open the switch, and a cord,.wire, -to form a bearing 5for a pin M, on which is or the like to operate the switch-blade. The hinged a latch N. Y The latch has a downswitch is closed by pulling on the cord until wardly-projecting hook u, lying in a slot Z in the latch catches and locks the blade. In the lupper arm of the contact-clipL and hav- 4o this position a quick jerk on the cord will ing a beveled edge on the side toward the en 9o throw out the latch and let the spring pull tering switch-blade. The tip of the hook enthe blade open. v ters a hole Z2 in the lower arm ofthe clip. The

In the accompanyingndrawings, Figure l is latch is somewhat heavy and turns freely on a bottom plan view 'of a ceiling-switch ein- 'its hinge-pin, resting normally with its hook bodying my invention. Fig. 2isasideelevaentering the hole Z2, as shown in Fig. 4. In 95 tion thereof, partly in section. Fig. 3 isy an the blade B is a hole b, adapted to engage end view'. Fig. 4 is an end view of the latch with the hook when the switch is closed. and terminal, partly in section and on a A cord Por other suitable operating conlargcr scale. nection is attached to the switch-blade and 5o The working parts of the switch are inountcarried through a .hole a* in a lug a5 on the roo base-plate. The hole is smooth and preferably flaring at each end to prevent wear on the cord.

The operation is as follows: To close the switch, the attendant gives a steady pull on the cord, which swings the blade into the clip, its edge striking the beveled edge of the hook and lifting the latch. When the hole b comes under the hook, the latch dropsby gravity and locks the blade. To open the switch, the attendant gives a sharp jerk on the cord, which pulls the blade still farther into the clip; but in so doing the edge of the hole b presses against the beveled edge of the hook and throws the latch upward. Thev blade, being free to swing open under the tension of the spring, at once fiies out of the clip before the inertia of the latch permits it to drop again.

It thus appears that this simple mechanism enables the switch to be opened and closed by pulling a single cord. Hence it is peculiarly well adapted for service in places out of ordinary reach.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-' l. Aswitch havinga spring-actuated blade, a device for automatically locking said blade when closed and automatically releasing it when said blade is given a sudden further closing movement.

2. A switch havinga spring-act uated blade,

and a gravity-lock for holding said blade closed and for releasing it on a sudden further closing movement.

3. A switch havinga spring-actuated blade, and a latch having a hook to engage with said blade when closed and be disengaged from said blade by a sudden further closing movement thereof.

4. A switch havingaspring-actuated blade,

a single cord arranged to put a tension on said spring in closing said blade, and means whereby a pull on said cord in any direction will release the blade and permit said spring to open it.

5. Aswitch havingaspring-actuated blade, a cord ,for closing said blade, and a latch to lock said blade closed and having weight enough to cause its inertia to prevent it from falling instantly when thrown up by a sudden further closing movement of the blades.

6. A switch having a spring-opened blade, a cord for closing said blade, and a gravitylatch having a hook provided with a beveled edge which is engaged by said blade when closed and adapted to be released by a movement of said blade.

7. A switch having a blade provided with a hole, a gravity-latch havinga beveled hook to enter said hole, a spring to open the blade, and a cord for closing said blade and also adapted to impart a further closing movement thereto causing it to disengage itself from the latch.

8. In a switch, a switch-blade, a pivot-stud therefor having a polygonal portion, a baseplate having a polygonal socket for said stud, and a spring attached to said stud and said blade.

9. In a switch, the combination with a baseplate having a` polygonal socket, of a pivotstud having a polygonal portion tting said socket, a switch-blade pivoted on said stud, and a helical spring encircling said stud and attached to said stud and blade.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of September, 1901.

HOWARD R. SARGENT. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, MARGARET E. .WooLEY. 

